Pierre-Joseph Proudhon Flashcards
Proudhon’s famous work
‘What is Property’ - 1840
Famous for his statement ‘Property is theft’
Proudhon’s stance on private property
Did not totally oppose private property
Objection was only to private property which oppressed workers or promoted inequality
Workers + peasants should own what they needed to manage their own production
Called ‘possessions’ to distinguish from ‘property’
Why was Proudhon an unusual anarchist
Proposed a peaceful abolition of the state
Even became a member of the French Parliament in 1848
Proudhon - bridge between anarchism + socialism
Described as a ‘libertarian socialist’
Agreed with socialist view that the means of production should be owned in common
Also agreed that the capitalist system of exchange should be abolished
However, unlike socialists, he wanted the abolishment of any state
Socialists saw the state as a vital part of the creation + maintenance of worker’s rights. Proudhon rejected this, saying it would become oppressive
Wanted a decentralised society, made up of co-operative communities of workers
Proudhon - bridge between individualist + collectivist anarchism
Collectivist - proposed federalisation, which would be backed up by a ‘people’s bank’ which would recycle surplus funds to these productive units
Individualist - saw workers + groups of workers as freely entering into contracts with each other for the exchange of labour + goods
Wanted a reconciliation of individualism and collectivism
Wrote in book ‘What is Property’ that in a truly anarchist state there would be a clear distinction between politics + ordinary life. What was good for an individual would be good for wider society - individual and collectivist goals would be the same leading to universal satisfaction
Proudhon : the ultimate anarchist?
Still regarded as the ‘ultimate anarchist’
Aspects of his mutualism (bridges) seen in 20th century cooperative movements + in the commune movements in 1960’s/70’s (counter culture)
Fair trade movement also inspired by Proudhon - countries receive just reward for their goods
Non-governmental organisations also inspired by Proudhon - put themselves first by producing what they need and want (e.g. Save the Children or Greenpeace)
